Egyptian Religious Revolution

Egyptian Religious RevolutionThe Tutankhamun London exhibition includes information, housed in galleries, based on various themes including Egyptian Religious Revolution. Comprehensive facts and information on Egyptian Religious Revolution can be accessed by our sitemap. But this page details fast facts and info that we hope will 'wet your appetite' for Ancient Egyptian History and the Tutankhamun London Exhibition including Egyptian Religious Revolution.

Egyptian Religious Revolution

Fact 1

The Egyptian Religious Revolution occurred during the reign of the Heretic Pharaoh Arkhenaten who ruled Egypt 1351 BC -1337 BC

Fact 2

Arkhenaten radically changed Ancient Egypt from a polytheistic religion, with many gods, to monotheism (the worship of one god). The sole god was called the Aten

Fact 3

Akhenaten used the might of the military commanders to destroy the old religion and its powerful priesthood who worshipped all the gods particularly the main god Amun at the Temple of Karnak at Thebes

Fact 4

The Egyptians worshipped almost 2000 different gods, and had done so for literally thousands of years

Fact 5

About 4 years into his reign, Akhenaten declared that all the old gods should be abandoned and replaced by a sole god - the Aten

Fact 6

Akhenaten was first known as first known as Amenhotep meaning "Amun is content" but changed his name to Akhenaten, meaning "Effective for Aten" when he forced the change to monotheism

Fact 7

Akhenaten built a new city called Amarna which was located on the banks of the Nile about midway between Thebes and Memphis

Fact 8

He forced the population of Thebes, totalling over 20,000, to move to the new city of Amarna abandoning their businesses, homes and religion at Thebes

Fact 9

The role of the priest in the new religion was decreased as only the Pharaoh and his chief wife Nefertiti were allowed to directly worship the Aten.

Fact 10

Akhenaten ordered that all images of all other gods were ordered to be destroyed.

Fact 11

The traditional temple based economy, run by priests of Amun, was destroyed and run by local administrators and military commanders

Fact 12

The new regime became corrupt and in 1337 BC, after a reign of 17 years, it is believed that Akhenaten was forced to abdicate and soon after died

Fact 13

In 1334BC when Tutankhamun was just 9 years old he was made Pharaoh

Fact 14

In 1331 BC there was a growing backlash against the new religion and the young pharaoh changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun and the new city of Armana was abandoned when Tutankhamun was forced to return to Thebes

Fact 15

King Tut died unexpectedly in the year of 1325 at the age of 18/19 and was replaced by the Pharaoh Ay

Fact 16

Temples to the old gods were reopened, their worship was allowed and the roles of some of the priests of Amun were restored. But the god Aten remained as the supreme god, allowing continued worship of the Aten.

Fact 17

After a brief rule of just 4 years Ay died. Their names were struck from royal lists and their tombs and monuments were usurped.

Fact 18

General Horemheb became Pharaoh. Horemheb had the names of Ay, Akhenaten, Nefertiti and to a lesser extent Tutankhamun publically condemned and removed from Ancient Egyptian records and history.

Fact 19

The tomb of Ay, his sarcophagus and paintings were all violently desecrated indicating the hatred that Horemheb felt towards Ay

Fact 20

The Ancient Egyptian revolution ended in 1321 BC with the death of Ay

Egyptian Religious Revolution

Egyptian Religious RevolutionThe Tutankhamun London exhibition includes information, housed in galleries, based on various themes including Egyptian Religious Revolution. Comprehensive facts and information on Egyptian Religious Revolution can be accessed by our sitemap. But this page details fast facts and info that we hope will 'wet your appetite' for Ancient Egyptian History and the Tutankhamun London Exhibition including Egyptian Religious Revolution.

Egyptian Religious RevolutionEach section of the King Tut website addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about the Golden Age of Pharaohs and of Egypt London Exhibition. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun and the Egyptian Religious Revolution.